Lifeboat-releasing device



NOV. 11,

G. w. P. QVERMAN LIFEBOAT RELEASING DEVICE .Filed Nov. 22. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 11, 1924. 1,515,517

G. W. F. OVERMAN LIFEBOAT RELEASING DEVICE Filed Nov. 22 1923 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

GEORGE W. P. OVERMAN, 0F NORFOLK,

VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ERNEST P. MANLY, 0F PQRTSMOUTIEI. VIRGINIA, AND (ENE-THIRD TO GEORGE F.

LIFEBOAT-RELEASING nnvicn.

Application filed November 22, 1923-.

To all whom it may concern:

7 Be it known that I, GEORGE W. P. OVER- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in thecounty of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lifeboat-Releasing Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a life boat fastening and releasing device.

A prime object is to provide a novel construction which may be readily releasedand the principles of which are broadly applicable to such devices whether they be used in connection with falls, as holddowns, or otherwise.

A second object is to provide a novel conconstruction utilizing separably engageable parts, one to be fastened to the main vessel and one to the life boat, in connection with novel trigger means readily and easily operable to release the said parts.

Another object is to provide av construction which avoids the use of interengaging teeth between the parts to theend that such parts may be more sturdy and capable of manufacture at much less cost Various additional objects and advantages will become, apparent, some being specifically pointed out, in the consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrat= ing an operative embodiment.

In said drawings 2- Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the use of the invention v Figure 2 is a side elevation of the form used in connection with a fall;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through said form taken on the line 33 of Figure 2; p

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially centrally, showing the parts in the act of fastening or separating;

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the grip;

Figure 6 is a detail perspective View of the trigger;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the holddown;

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken substantially central of Figure 7, showing the Serial No. crease.

pagts in the act of fastening or separating, an

c Figure 9 is an edge view of the device.

Like reference characters designate like or snnilar parts in the difierent views.

A life boat is fragmentarily shown at A having fastening and releasing device generally designated B located at the bow and a hold-down as at C engaging boat A and the deck of a main vessel. as at D.,

The apparatus B' has devices E and F adapted "for separable connection and attachment respectively to the life boat A and to the main vessel D which carries the life boat. Preferably two of the apparatuses are used in connection with each life boat, one being located at the bow as shown and the other at the stern thereof (not shown).

The device E may consist of an attaching hold-down .plate '10. adapted to be secured in an upplates at their distal ends fastened as by set screws of the like 16 to the attaching plate 10. The pin 13 is also passed through the side walls or plates of bracket 15. The bracket 15 adjacent its closed end is reduced in width by the provision of inwardly inclined or deflected portions 1'? and adjacent the closed end in advance of the portion 1"? a pin or short shaft 18, which may be a bolt is fastened in and spans the side walls of said bracket. A pulley 19 is journaled on in 18 and housed by the bracket.

At a suitable location, the trigger 14 is provided with an opening or other means 20 in which a cable, a pull cord or other operating means which is suggested at 21, is fastened. This cable 21 passes over and is guided by the pulley 19.

i The device F consists essentially of a grip preferably made in a single piece of metal. Thisgrip has an eye 2e therethrough accommodating'a bolt 25 pivotally connecting a tl shaped shackle 26 thereto. A tackle block 27 of a fall or lowering cable 28 has a hook 29 adapted to detachably engage the shackle 26. The lower end of the grip F is provided with an offset 30integral there with and adapted for location below and in engagement with an offset 31 integral with and located adjacent the upper end of the attaching plate 10. It is to be noted that the grip F is in contact substantially throughout its length with the attaching platelO and that such contact is extended by the inclination of their engaging surfaces as at 32, to the end that the device E will reinforce the device F as experiment has shown is very desirable.

The trigger 14 is gravity actuable to seek a fastening position and has an offset 33 adapted along an inclined surface 34 to en gage a corresponding surface 35 at the lower end of the grip. The trigger also has a lug 36 integral with it and extending rearwardly to engage the adjacent side surface of the grip F. This lug, as at 37, has a curved surface or is cut away to the end that it may swing so as to free the grip F.

Referring now to the hold-down C, it com prises separable parts or devices 38 and 39. The device 38 has a hook at its upper end as at 40 adapted for engagement with the gunwale of the life boat A and adjacent the lower ends of its outer or longer arm has bracket 41 fastened thereto. The lower end portion of the longer arm of device 38 is reduced and above its lower end has a notch or recess 42 above a lateral offset 43. Part or section 39 has a reduced portion 44 provided with a lateral offset 45 adapted for disposition in the notch 42. A latch or trigger 46 is operable between the bracket plate 41 and pivoted thereto by a stub shaft 47. Exteriorly of the bracket plate 41, a suitable weight 48 is fastened to the stub shaft 47 so as to urge the latch or trigger 46 to a fastening or closed position. The latch or trigger 46 at its operating end is provided with a cam 49 adapted to engage the section 39 and urge it toward and hold it in fastened position. The upper portion of latch or trigger 46 is provided with an opening 50 in which an operating cord, cable or other element is connected. At the lower end, section 39 has a link 51 pivotally connected to it and which in turn is fastened to the deck D of the main vessel as by means of cable 52 or otherwise. It is obvious that 1 the hold-downs are used in pluralities arranged at any desired locations with respect to the deck and the life boat A.

In operation, with the life boat secured on the deck of the main vessel D by the holddowns C, the cables 46 are pulled to move the latches 46 to release grips or sections 39. Sections 39 are then separated from sections 38 after which .the life boat A is disengaged ready for lowering through the medium of the falls 28. When the life boat A is in the water, and it is desired to release the life boat, by any suitable means such as cables 21, the falls 28 are simultaneously operated to draw them in directions away from the base plate 10. Each trigger will thus move downwardly and in a direction away from the attaching plate 10 so that the lug 37 will free its grip F, and thus the life boat will be released. Restoring of the life boat to position on the deck D is the opposite to the movement outlined. It will be ap parent that when grip F is inserted between ears 12 trigger 14 will be rotated by engagement of the inclined surface 35 with lug 37 to permit settling of the grip F into position opposite plate 10, after which the trigger will fall into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. The lug 37 by such movement of the trigger engaging the grip F and moving the offset 30 into engagement with offset 31 to hold it in engagement with the plate 10, inclined surface 34 also coacting with inclined surface 35 to hold the grip in latching position.

' Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. A releasing mechanism of the class described having an attaching plate, a gripfor separable connection thereto, a trigger to secure the grip in fastened relation to the plate, and said trigger being engageable with the side and end of the grip to urge the grip to its seat but not such as to materially increase the strain on trigger release under maximum load.

2. A releasing mechanism of the class described consisting of an attaching plate having an inclined offset, ears integral with said plate and in spaced relation, a pin spanning said ears, a trigger pivoted on said pin,a grip disposable between the attaching plate, ears and trigger for fastening by the latter, the trigger being engageable with the side and end of the grip to urge the grip to its seat, a bracket carried by the attaching plate, an operating means connected to the trigger, and guide means for the operating means carried by the bracket.

3. A releasing mechanism of the class described consisting of an attaching plate having an offset, a grip having an ofiset for disposition in engagement with said first mentioned offset, ears integral with the attaching plate between which the grip is insertable, a pin spanning said ears, a trigger pivoted on said pin engageable with the grip at one side thereof and along an in- .clined plane with the lower end thereof, a

bracket extending from the securing plate, an operating member connected to the trigger, and a guide member for the operating member carried by the bracket.

ill

4. A. releasing mechanism of the class described including an attaching plate having an inclined ofi'set, ears integral with the attaching plate, a grip insertable between said ears and having an inclined offset to engage the offset on the plate and its inserted end inclined, a trigger pivotally mounted between said ears and having an inclined portion adapted to engage the in- 10 clined end of the grip, a lug on said trigger In testimony whereof I affix my signa- 15 ture in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. P. OVERMAN. Witnesses:

J. I. GRIFFIN, E. E. WEST. 

